The Montague Street Business Improvement District (BID) held its annual membership meeting last Wednesday, focusing largely on a proposed long-term strategic plan that is supposed to help the BID meet its core mission of improving all aspects of the district.

In order to pursue developing a long-term strategic plan, the Montague Street BID applied for a City Council grant to fund the hiring of a consultant to help design the plan.

The specifics regarding the funding are expected to be revealed in July, at which point the BID will solicit community input as they identify goals and decide on strategies to make Montague Street the best place to live, eat, work and shop.

Other matters discussed were the district’s growing number of high-end retailers; the BID’s new website, which was unveiled this winter; the success and spread of the BID’s new logo; and a new Christmas shopping event that will include a day of promotions and holiday treats.

Montague Street BID President Diana Dolling-Ross and Executive Director Brigit Pinnell also took a moment to remember life-long Brooklynite and former Board President Maria Foffe, who passed away in early May.

“Having witnessed Montague Street evolve over the decades, she had a unique perspective of the district,” Dolling-Ross and Pinnell wrote in their letter for the annual meeting. “Maria knew intimately what made Montague Street special — its beauty, its ‘mom and pop’ businesses and the strong community spirit of Brooklyn Heights.

“Maria committed herself to continuously improve the district, supporting the BID’s efforts and giving generously of her time. She will truly be missed.”

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams delivered the keynote address for the meeting, and he spoke of Montague Street BID’s expertise and the need for that to be shared with other districts in the borough.

“I would like for you to give me some of that energy, some of that intelligence, some of that knowledge in other communities so that we don’t continue to have a brain drain of expertise,” Adams said.

The borough president said that Montague Street BID had “done it right,” and that other neighborhoods, like East New York, Brownsville and Bedford-Stuyvesant, could use help in developing their own businesses.

“I don’t want the borough to be lopsided in success,” he said. “I think the entire borough can benefit from what we have learned down here in downtown Brooklyn.”